Stronger ties with Zimbabwe

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last week a Namibian government delegation attended the 7th session of the Namibia Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission in Harare earlier this month.The meeting considered strategies to promote foreign direct investment for both countries as well as growing the reciprocal trade in mutual products. Another point on the agenda was to foster economic linkages particularly in the agriculture, fishing, mining and tourism sectors.The Commission was co-chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Zimbabwe, Hon. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi. The two ministers were supported by a number of senior government officials from their respective countries.The two delegations expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral cooperation between the two countries and underscored the historical and fraternal relations that exist.In this regard, the two ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Joint Permanent Commission to coordinate bilateral cooperation and partnerships between the two countries.Both delegations noted with appreciation the expansive nature of the bilateral cooperation which include trade and investment, agriculture, telecommunications, mining, energy, infrastructural development, tourism, immigration, education, politics, defence and security, transport and environment.The ministers reiterated their commitment to improve and strengthen both the political and economic relations by intensifying cooperation between the business communities of the two countries with a view to increase trade and investment. Both delegations further agreed to encourage people-to-people contact through cultural, sport, scientific and educational exchange programmes and tourism.The parties discussed new areas of cooperation related to legal affairs, including the sharing of best practices with regards to the provision of Legal Aid, setting up of institutions to enforce Intellectual Property Rights and Mutual Assistance in Civil Matters.

Namibia used this opportunity to utilize the 7th Session to promote its products and foster economic linkages.Several new Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) were signed during the session to strengthen the already existing ties. These MoUs cover Meteorology; Cooperation in Youth Affairs; Cooperation in Agriculture; and cooperation in Tourism. Namibia previously hosted the 6th Session of the Joint Permanent Commission in Swakopmund in November 2011. The the next session will be hosted again in Namibia in 2016 on a date and venue to be mutually agreed through diplomatic channels.